The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held, Wednesday, a high-level ResiliArt debate “Celebrating 15 years of diversity and creativity” to reflect on developments in the cultural sector in recent years.
Morocco was represented by television and film director Nabil Ayouch at this event held in the context of the 10th anniversary of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005 Convention) and the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of the Artist (1980 Recommendation).
These instruments are at the core of the international community’s commitment towards artists and the emergence of dynamic and diverse sectors worldwide, said UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone in opening remarks to this virtual meeting.
UNESCO is working alongside its Member States to improve the resilience of cultural and creative industries by strengthening the status of artists, funding innovative projects and improving the regulatory framework, he added.
For his part, Nabil Ayouch stressed the importance of the 2005 Convention as it has helped to enshrine cultural diversity and contribute to the circulation of cultural and artistic works.
This Convention offers to states the opportunity to safeguard their cultural sovereignty and encourages cultural exchanges through co-production treaties between different countries, he noted, highlighting the UN Convention role as a tool to protect cultural diversity and heritage.
Participants in this meeting tackled the advantages as well as the limitations imposed by new digital technologies, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
They also pondered on a new and more resilient economy system for the creative sector, building on lessons learned and taking into account the needs and ways to strengthen the status of artists and cultural professionals.
The online event featured pre-recorded testimonials from individuals whose tireless efforts led to the adoption of the 1980 Recommendation and the entry into force of the 2005 Convention.
ResiliArt is a UNESCO movement launched on 15 April 2020, World Art Day, to mobilize a concerted global effort to support artists and ensure access to culture for all. It sheds light on the current state of creative industries amidst crisis by initiating global discussions with key industry professionals, while capturing experiences and voices of resilience from artists – both established and emerging – on social media.
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